Your thoughts?

Anonymous

April 27,2022 at 12:00AM UTC

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Your thoughts?

I recently had my annual review. As with every review there are a lot dynamics…all said it went well, I received a raise. Still underpaid with my experience yes, but I digress….I was a couple of minutes early and offered to wait until the actual time, but was invited in for some chitchat… the chitchat started with how the great resignation is now the great regret…. What the what??

some background: in the space of a year, our department had 2 colleagues leave; one lateral and the other chose a different career path.

I can’t seem to put this to rest….thought it was inappropriate preamble to a review, but could see why he felt it was necessary to remind me that the grass isn’t always greener (esp. being short staffed)…that’s fine, but the opposite of the intended affect is occurring…. I just want to get far away, not hunker down and pull my weight and then some… I’m tired!

Am I reading into this?

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AnonymousApril 27,2022 at 12:25AM UTC
Read the posts on this platform and weekly there are posts of people who left for their dream job only to beg for their old job back within months if leaving.
So with that said, the media is picking up on this trend just as the did on the Great Resignation and companies feel vindicated. They will continue to under pay their workforce and threaten to let those who complain go quickly.
It's a pendulum and things in the labor market are starting to shift back to favor the employer.
Heather CutlerApril 27,2022 at 1:35AM UTC
You got a raise and your review went well! Any chance your employer was showing gratitude for your time with the organization and a job well done throughout the year? Based on your narrative, I'm not seeing any of this as threatening. Congrats on the good review and raise!
AnonymousApril 27,2022 at 2:48AM UTC
Firstly, like others have commented - yay on the raise!
Secondly, from what you have shared, you know the value of your work and how it's still not being compensated. I hear you.
Sometimes I notice that an interaction or news post makes me feel more tired or frustrated, and I ask myself: For my own well-being, is this something I need to act on, or is this something I can let go of? In this case, does this manager's choice to talk about this topic at that time, all of which emphasize his position of power (regardless of what he meant by it, that is the effect), merit my paying it any mind? Does this interaction change anything about what you have in mind for your next steps and goals?
If it's just burdening you, and it has no bearing on your goals, I say you are the important person here, and you are free to let go of needless weights.
(and who knows, maybe he was shooting the breeze and trying to remind himself not to jump ship - regardless, not your problem)
McKinsey calls this the Great Attrition, which I prefer to "the Great Resignation." Regardless of whether the employees who leave end up regretting their decision, attrition still continues to grow more costly for companies. Not your problem. Keep focusing on your needs, your aspirations, your achievements, and celebrating yourself.
AnonymousApril 27,2022 at 3:48AM UTC
I don’t think you’re reading into it. That doesn’t seem like an appropriate discussion to have before a review.
Barb HansenApril 27,2022 at 2:44PM UTC
Based on what you described I think I would tag that conversation as a striped red flag or perhaps a pink flag, or whatever you call something that's not quite a red flag, but still should be noted.
And if the comment didn't sit well with you, then trust that feeling.
You don't need to dwell in the same place as that red flag but it's good to be aware. You can always spruce up your resume, throw it out to a few potential job to see if there's a new and better opportunity waiting for you somewhere else, if you feel (or know) that you are being under paid (and perhaps undervalued)